Who the hell had the audacity to fucking tap my phone.
I stood immediately, the chair making a screeching noise against the well-polished, tiled floor.
My blood boiled so much I threw my phone into the bin without a second thoughts.
My eyes scanned the room. Everything around me started to look suspicious- the walls, the vase, everything.
I moved closer to the glass walls overlooking the city before breathing out a sigh.
Just not in relief.
But in frustration.
"The nerve of that fool..".I muttered beneath my breathe.
I really wanted to believe that he didn't assume I wouldn't notice such an obvious thing.
If he wanted to put up a fight against me, he should at least know me well.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The manager stepped in rather cautiously.
He probably already realized the shift in the atmosphere.
"You called for me, sir?"
"I did." My voice remained calm, a stack negation to the expression I wore on my face.
He stilled, shivering slightly.
"Sir?"
"Get me a new phone. From a regular shop, the receipt mustn't be linked to me." I instructed. "Make sure that it cant be traced back to me."
Confusion was evidently written on his face but I ignored it.
"Yes sir."
When I didn't reply he spoke up again.
"Is there any other thing you would have me do, sir?"
"Actually, yes." I said. "Get the IT department to run a full sweep of this building."
That caught his attention.
"Yes, Mr. Russo."
"I assume you understand that it should be done quietly." I lowered my voice.
"I understand very well, sir."
He left almost immediately.
Jeez!
Was I that scary?
I ran my hand through my hair, wishing all this were over.
My head turned swiftly to the door when I heard it burst open, without warning.
Adrian.
Not now.
"Vincent-."
"Get out." I cut him off.
He raised his brows at me, feeling confused.
"...what?"
"Out. Now."
Even Adrian, with his low IQ in awareness could feel my anger.
He raised his hands slightly in the air. "Alright...ill go, you don't have to look at me like you want to behead me."
The door clicked shut behind him.
I went back to my desk and pulled out a safe from underneath it.
I punched in the passcode, retrieving a smaller, old device, one I hadn't used in years.
The device, although small was untraceable and safe.
Or at least harder to trace and the safest option.
I powered it on.
For some weird reasons, there was only one person that came to my mind at the moment.
Mayelle.
One ring was enough for her to answer the call.
"Hello, this is Mayelle Belmont, who am I speaking with?" Her tone was sharp.
"Vincent." I responded.
She questioned.
^"Vincent? Did you change your number or something?"
She never got short of questions it seemed.
"Something like that." I said.
"Tell me what happened. Why would you change your number?"She asked.
"Nothing much, my phone got tapped. Are you alone?" I went straight to the point.
She paused.
"Yh. Why?"
"Good. Listen, everyone now knows that you're my fiancée, whatever has to do with me will directly or indirectly affect you." I started.
"Get to the point." She urged.
"For now, mind whatever you say when you're on a call. Your phone might have also been tapped."
We stayed silent for a while as she tried to understand what this was all about.
"I understand. Thanks for the heads-up." She finally said.
"Hmm." I hummed in response.
"By the way, are you free next week?" She asked.
"It depends, I will have to check my schedule."I said.
"Are you trying to say that I, your future wife is not worth more than some weirdly planned schedule." A play tinge underlined her tone.
"I would never say such. I guess ill be free then." I said.
"That's much better.."She paused.
"Vincent." She called out.
"Yh."
"If you ever get tired of it all, ill be right here, okay?" Her voice turned warm, comforting my turmoiled soul.
" Where do you plan to go next week?"I asked.
"It's a fashion banquet, several fashion legends will be there." I could hear the amusement in her tone.
"As a reward for coming relatively early this morning ill send you a dress to wear for the party."
"I'll be waiting to see it."
"I wont disappoint, its not my thing." I assured.
"I guess its goodbye then." She said.
"Bye." I said before ending the call.
After I ended the call, a slow smirk crept onto my lips.
He wants to play?
Fine then, ill give him the chance to.
My eyes darkened as I scanned the room once more.
I picked up the telephone placed on my desk for communication within the building.
^^Good morning Mr. Russo.^^ The person on the other line greeted.
^^Find Adrian Russo, tell him to report to my office this moment.^^ I instructed and ended the call.
Few minutes later, Adrian stepped into my office looking like nothing had happened.
"What now?" He asked.
"I want to entrust you with something." I stared.
"You said what!?" He turned serious. "What do you need me to do."
"I want you to look for the missing data on Blaire Chandler." I finally revealed.
"Is the world about to end or am I already dead?" He joked.
"You will be soon if you don't take this seriously." I threatened.
He sat up tight, noticing the change in my mood.
"Brother." He called out.
"I've warned you to stop calling me that."
"Why wont you let me call you brother? Is it because were not from the same mother?" He questioned one after the other.
"Because you're a reminder of my fathers betrayal to my mother."
I finally let it out.
Straight, unfiltered.
I could feel Adrians face darken.
"I'll go do what you asked me to."He said and stood to take his leave.
I only realized how harsh my words actually were when he finally left.
I sighed once again.
Probably the hundredth time today.
I stood and made to leave my office.
But just as I opened the door, Scout fell straight into my arms.
I couldn't help but notice her scent.
She smelled like a mixture of strawberry and fruits in general.
Realizing how inappropriate our position was I steadied her on her feet and took a step back.
"Good morning Mr. Russo." There was something suspicious about the way Scout greeted me.
"Morning." I replied simply, still feeling grumpy over my partial argument with Adrian.
"I am sorry for the stress the scandal might have put you through."She said.
"Hmm." I hummed and moved out of office, closing the door behind me and successfully shielding my office away from unwanted gaze.
I was already walking down to the elevator when I finally paused.
I turned back to face Scout, who as expected was still standing rooted in front of my office.
"Scout, get over here." I instructed.
"Yes, Sir."
She said the moment she stood right in front of me.
"Why were you eavesdropping on me?" I asked.